Trump: Puerto Rico put budget 'out of whack' but lives savedSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Confronting Puerto Rico's devastation nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria, President Donald Trump highlighted the island's relatively low death toll compared with "a real catastrophe like Katrina" as he opened a tour of the island Tuesday by focusing on the best of the reviews he and his administration are getting for the federal response. Trump pledged an all-out effort to help the island but added: "Now I hate to t...

Vatican urges online protections for kids amid porn scandalROME — The Vatican secretary of state urged law enforcement agencies, governments and social media sites on Tuesday to take responsibility to protect children from online sexual abuse and exploitation — a statement that came even as one of his diplomats is caught up in an international child porn investigation. Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the case of Monsignor Carlo Capella was "very painful" for all involved. Parolin said ...

Pitching in to clean upLocal Boy Scouts Pack No. 210 recently helped clean up on Public Lands Day Saturday at Sequoyah Park and Lake Dardanelle State Park. The Scouts adopted the park as a pack project.

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

City council starts budget reviews for '18The Russellville City Council's Finance Committee began weekly reviews of 2018 department budgets last week at City Hall. The first two budgets analyzed were the Russellville Fire Department (RFD) and Community Development. The RFD budget for next year was estimated at $3.96 million to cover salaries and additional expenses. Committee Chairwoman Freddie Harris said there were increases in overtime, utilities, vehicle insurance, vehicle mainten...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community people: Elizabeth Chapman, Judi Waldrop, Sarah Bergner and Joe FisherTHE COURIER / Submitted The Atkins Lions Club officers presented a donation to the Help Network at a recent meeting. Pictured (from left) are vice president Elizabeth Chapman, secretary and treasurer Judi Waldrop, Sarah Bergner, director of the Pope, Yell and Johnson County Help Network, and Atkins Lion president Joe Fisher.

Dover City Council addresses sewer issues, approves transfer of fundsSewer issues were the major focus at the September monthly meeting of the Dover City Council. Mayor Pat Johnson told the council that because of increasing treatment costs charged by Russellville's City Corp and the fact that September spanned three pay periods, the city's sewer account was very low with a balance of $5,200. He requested that the council approve a special transfer of $5,000 from the water and sewer revenue account to the sewer...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL
sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

#todayRiver Valley United Way will host a community campaign rally from 3-6 p.m. today at the Arvest lawn in downtown Russellville. There will be hot dogs, drinks, ice treats, opportunities for individuals to join the Community Change game, and information on how businesses can invest in the local programs and services that are having real impact in Pope, Johnson and Yell counties.

Uncertainty after reports of Petty's deathLOS ANGELES -- A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department says it has no information on the well-being of Tom Petty and its spokespeople did not provide info CBS News used to report the rocker had died. Officer Tony Im said Monday that the LAPD did not respond to any incident involving the rocker. CBS has since amended its story, and the trade Variety also retracted its obituary, which cited an unnamed source confirming Petty's death. "...

Ties threatened: US to tell Cuba to remove most diplomatsWASHINGTON — Only days ago, the United States and Cuba maintained dozens of diplomats in newly re-opened embassies in Havana and Washington, powerful symbols of a warming relationship between longtime foes. Now both countries are poised to cut their embassies by more than half, as uncanny, unexplained attacks threaten delicate ties between the Cold War rivals. The Trump administration will tell Cuba on Tuesday to withdraw 60 percent of its dip...

Acts of heroism emerge in chaos of Las Vegas shootingLAS VEGAS — Rob Ledbetter's battlefield instincts kicked in quickly as bullets rained overhead. The 42-year-old U.S. Army veteran who served as a sniper in Iraq immediately began tending to the wounded, one of several heroes to emerge from the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Amid the massacre in Las Vegas, which left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured, there were acts of compassion and countless heroics that officials say...

Blytheville firefighters find person dead in burning minivanBLYTHEVILLE — Authorities in Blytheville are investigating after a person was found dead inside a burning minivan. Blytheville Police Capt. Scott Adams says it's not yet known whether the fire was accidental or if the death was a homicide. The Blytheville Courier News reports that the minivan was found burning Monday afternoon. Fire Chief Mike Carney says firefighters extinguished the blaze, then discovered a body in the backseat in the miniva...

Arkansas sees increase in Medicaid spendingLITTLE ROCK — Spending on Arkansas' expanded Medicaid program grew by nearly 24 percent last fiscal year, an increase that officials attribute to higher-than-expected enrollment. Spending increase exceeded what state officials initially estimated by about $200 million, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. But despite the surge in overall cost, Arkansas spent about $5 million below what the state had projected. According to data from the Ark...

Inmate faces manslaughter charge in Arkansas prison deathLITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas prosecutor filed a manslaughter charge Monday against a prisoner who says he was only defending himself when he punched another inmate after one of several melees in the state's prison system since July. John Demoret, 25, died almost two weeks after he was assaulted July 28 inside a barracks at the Tucker Unit prison 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock. James Buyard, 24, was charged Monday. Prison record...

Obituary: Tammy LoveDARDANELLE — Tammy Lynn Love, age 55, of Dardanelle, died Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2017, at her home. She was born July 24, 1962, at Danville, to Jimmy Cossey and Imogene Rainey. She loved music, crafts, fishing and hunting. Survivors include her parents, Bobby and Imogene West of Russellville; children, Mikel Martinez of Dardanelle, Lacie Love of Clarksville; one brother, James West of California; one aunt, Charlene Scoles of Centerville and two ...

Obituary: Dudley Wells IIIDARDANELLE — Dudley Harold Wells III, age 69, of Russellville, died Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017, at Saint Vincent Health Systems in Little Rock. He was born Nov. 18, 1947, in Montgomery, Ala., to the late Dudley Harold Wells Jr. and Anna Barbara Eakle. He had a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arkansas Tech. He was a master electrician and he taught at Russellville Training Center. He was a United States Army veteran, a member of the Knights of Co...

Obituary: Verna AppleDARDANELLE — Verna Mae Apple, age 93, of Russellville, died Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, at Brookdale Nursing Center. She was born June 3, 1924, at Sidney, to the late Homer and Cora Gray Wilkes. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church and First Assembly of God Women’s Ministries in Russellville. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Rev. J.R. Apple and one brother, William O. Wilkes. Survivors include one nephew, Larry ...

Obituary: Robby BrooksRobby Dean Brooks, 27, of Russellville, died Sept. 30, 2017, at St. Vincent Hospital in Little Rock. The son of Lewis N. Brooks and Debra Brooks, Robby was born Feb. 25, 1990, at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. He was a member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. He enjoyed fishing, swimming, riding horses, had a love for motorcycles and skateboarding. He is preceded in death by his father Lewis Brooks, grandparents Elvin D. Tatum, Faye ...

Pottsville CC discusses stop property swapPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville City Council recently met to discuss old business regarding the possible condemnation of property and to look at a preliminary drawing of the new bathrooms for the Rev. Thomas G. Morris Street City Parks and Athletic Complex softball field. Last May, the city of Pottsville had an agreement with James Blaylock to swap land to install a building with a pump station and generator, though Blaylock recently decided not t...